A wearable transdermal drug applicator

Abstract

A wearable transdermal drug applicator has a dock for a liquid drug capsule, a dermal contact face, a delivery channel configured for delivering liquid from the drug capsule through a delivery port of the dermal contact face, a controller and a permeation enhancing subsystem interfacing the dermal contact face. The permeation enhancing subsystem has permeation enhancing elements operatively surrounding the delivery port and which are operative to enhance transdermal drug delivery at the dermal contact face. The elements have a sonicator configured to apply ultrasound to skin contacting the dermal contact face, electrodes configured to configured to apply electric current to the skin contacting the dermal contact face, a heater configured to heat the skin contacting the dermal contact face and red light LEDs configured to apply red light to the skin contacting the dermal contact face.

1 . A wearable transdermal drug applicator comprising:
 a dock for a liquid drug capsule;   a dermal contact face;   a delivery channel configured for delivering liquid from the drug capsule through a delivery port of the dermal contact face;   a controller;   a permeation enhancing subsystem interfacing the dermal contact face, the permeation enhancing subsystem comprising permeation enhancing elements operatively surrounding the delivery port and which are operative to enhance transdermal drug delivery at the dermal contact face, the elements comprising:
 a sonicator configured to apply ultrasound to skin contacting the dermal contact face; 
 electrodes configured to configured to apply electric current to the skin contacting the dermal contact face; 
 a heater configured to heat the skin contacting the dermal contact face; and 
 red light LEDs configured to apply red light to the skin contacting the dermal contact face and wherein the controller is programmed with a delivery program and wherein the controller is configured for controlling the operation of the elements according to the delivery program. 
   
     
     
         2 . The applicator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the LEDs are configured to emit a wavelength centred at approximately 670 nm. 
     
     
         3 . The applicator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heater is an electrical resistive heater element. 
     
     
         4 . The applicator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured for controlling the sequence of operation of the elements according to the delivery program. 
     
     
         5 . The applicator as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the delivery program comprises a heat sequence during which heater is controlled accordingly, a current sequence during which the electrodes are controlled, an ultrasound sequence during which the sonicator is controlled and a light sequence during which the red light LEDs are controlled. 
     
     
         6 . The applicator as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the delivery program encodes an intermittent delivery sequence and wherein the controller is configured for controlling operation and non-operation of at least one of the elements accordingly. 
     
     
         7 . The applicator as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured for controlling the operation of at least one of the elements according to the intermittent delivery sequence to control vasodilatory effect thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The applicator as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured for controlling the operation of at least two of the elements according to the intermittent delivery sequence to control vasodilatory effect thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The applicator as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured for controlling simultaneous operation and non-operation of the sonicator and LEDs. 
     
     
         10 . The applicator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to cease operation of the heater prior completion of the delivery program. 
     
     
         11 . The applicator as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the device further comprises a thermometer interfacing the dermal contact face and wherein the controller is configured for controlling the operation of the heater according to a temperature setpoint. 
     
     
         12 . The applicator as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured for operating the heater at a temperature setpoint of less than a maximum temperature setpoint. 
     
     
         13 . The applicator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the applicator comprises a reader configured to read delivery program instructions encoded by the drug capsule. 
     
     
         14 . The applicator as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the delivery program instructions encode a heat sequence during which heater is controlled accordingly, a current sequence during which the electrodes are controlled accordingly, an ultrasound sequence during which the sonicator is controlled accordingly and a light sequence during which the red light LEDs are controlled accordingly. 
     
     
         15 . The applicator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to detect skin contact by measuring skin electrical conductivity between the electrodes prior operating the permeation enhancing subsystem. 
     
     
         16 . The applicator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to detect delivery of the liquid via the delivery channel by measuring electrical conductivity through the liquid between the electrodes. 
     
     
         17 . The applicator as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to detect when the liquid has been depleted according to the electrical conductivity. 
     
     
         18 . The applicator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the applicator comprises a unitary assembly of a sonicator and an electrode. 
     
     
         19 . The applicator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the permeation enhancer elements substantially concentrically surround the delivery port. 
     
     
         20 . The applicator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the applicator is a wrist worn device which comprises a wrist strap connected either side thereof without obstructing the elements. 
     
     
         21 . The applicator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dock comprises puncture formations which puncture the capsule when the capsule is inserted into the dock. 
     
     
         22 . The applicator as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the capsule comprises compressive sidewalls configured to deform when the capsule is pressed to thereby pressurise liquid contents therein. 
     
     
         23 . The applicator as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the dock comprises a compression spring therein which compresses the drug capsule.